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Redskins: Five bold predictions for Thursday’s preseason debut

By Ian Cummings

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: Shaun Wilson #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: Shaun Wilson #38 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 48-40. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JULY 24: Kevin O’Connell #5 of the New England Patriots participates in a drill during the first day of training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 24, 2008 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JULY 24: Kevin O’Connell #5 of the New England Patriots participates in a drill during the first day of training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 24, 2008 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

No. 3 – Dwayne Haskins takes play calls directly from Kevin O’Connell

Frankly, no one knows what degree of influence Kevin O’Connell will have as the Redskins offensive coordinator. Some have postulated that if things go south early with Jay Gruden, then O’Connell could take over play calling duties. But for now, Gruden is likely to remain the top play caller.

Still, there are roles that O’Connell can fill, and one, in the early goings of training camp, has been to serve as Dwayne Haskins‘ offensive ambassador. O’Connell has spent a lot of time side by side with Haskins in training camp, walking him through various aspects of the quarterback position.

O’Connell spent one season on the same offensive staff of Ohio State coach Ryan Day, the same coach who led Haskins to a record-breaking Big Ten campaign in 2018. Some of those connections are bound to carry over, and with that relationship, it’s O’Connell who can make Haskins the most comfortable, and not Gruden.

We saw this same thing happen last year; the Redskins brought in Mark Sanchez, and O’Connell, who had a connection with Sanchez, called plays for him. Now, with a much more stable offensive cast, we’ll be able to see the true returns of O’Connell’s play calling, when he becomes the direct play caller for Haskins against the Browns.

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